C-Hydrochange
C-HydroChange's overall aim is to understand how recurrent and long-lasting hydrological
extremes affect carbon (C) cycling in lakes and reservoirs, and how projected changes in
hydrology in a warmer world will modify C dynamics in these ecosystems.
The redistribution of C stocks between Earth compartments is one of the main topics in
modern C biogeochemistry, due to its relevance to atmospheric C content and climate
change. Lakes and reservoirs play a significant role on global C exchanges by regulating the
transport of C from continents to oceans. They maintain high autotrophic and heterotrophic
metabolic rates, emit carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere, and accumulate large
quantities of C in their sediments.
Changes in hydrological patterns are one of the major impacts of global change. These
changes will also impact hydrology in lakes and reservoirs, which will modify the regime of
incoming materials, water residence time, and the exposure of sediment to air. However, we
are far from having an integrated picture of the impacts of a changing hydrology on the C
cycling in lakes and reservoirs. This compromises not only our ability to anticipate changes in
C stocks between Earth compartments, but also hinders the definition of appropriatestrategies to face water quality management in future conditions, an issue particularly
relevant in reservoirs. C-HydroChange will study the impacts of a changing hydrology on C
cycling in lakes and reservoirs stressing four main facets:
extremes affect carbon (C) cycling in lakes and reservoirs, and how projected changes in
hydrology in a warmer world will modify C dynamics in these ecosystems.
The redistribution of C stocks between Earth compartments is one of the main topics in
modern C biogeochemistry, due to its relevance to atmospheric C content and climate
change. Lakes and reservoirs play a significant role on global C exchanges by regulating the
transport of C from continents to oceans. They maintain high autotrophic and heterotrophic
metabolic rates, emit carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere, and accumulate large
quantities of C in their sediments.
Changes in hydrological patterns are one of the major impacts of global change. These
changes will also impact hydrology in lakes and reservoirs, which will modify the regime of
incoming materials, water residence time, and the exposure of sediment to air. However, we
are far from having an integrated picture of the impacts of a changing hydrology on the C
cycling in lakes and reservoirs. This compromises not only our ability to anticipate changes in
C stocks between Earth compartments, but also hinders the definition of appropriatestrategies to face water quality management in future conditions, an issue particularly
relevant in reservoirs. C-HydroChange will study the impacts of a changing hydrology on C
cycling in lakes and reservoirs stressing four main facets:
Facet 1. Recurrent hydrological extremes and water column metabolism. Changes in
hydrological conditions may promote increased metabolic rates and gross primary production
vs. respiration (GPP/R) imbalances, changing the ecosystem carbon dynamics and
influencing water quality due to anoxia development.
hydrological conditions may promote increased metabolic rates and gross primary production
vs. respiration (GPP/R) imbalances, changing the ecosystem carbon dynamics and
influencing water quality due to anoxia development.
Facet 2. Recurrent hydrological extremes and C emissions from lakes and reservoirs.
Seasonal water level fluctuations and permanent drying of lakes and reservoirs expose large
areas of sediments to the atmosphere.
Seasonal water level fluctuations and permanent drying of lakes and reservoirs expose large
areas of sediments to the atmosphere.
Facet 3. Recurrent and long-lasting hydrological extremes and the remobilization of
sedimentary C sinks. Many lakes and reservoirs are currently shrinking and falling dry due to
diversion of water for human uses, recent shifts in hydrology, and decommissioning of dams.
Exposure of lake sediments to atmospheric oxygen and higher air temperatures reactivates
decomposition of buried organic C, which is eventually released to the atmosphere,
compromising this C sink.
sedimentary C sinks. Many lakes and reservoirs are currently shrinking and falling dry due to
diversion of water for human uses, recent shifts in hydrology, and decommissioning of dams.
Exposure of lake sediments to atmospheric oxygen and higher air temperatures reactivates
decomposition of buried organic C, which is eventually released to the atmosphere,
compromising this C sink.
Facet 4. Projecting impacts of hydrological changes on C cycling in lakes and reservoirs.
Several projections of climate change impacts have identified several major hydrological
alterations in a 2oC warmer world. However, we still miss a comprehensive, standardized
exercise showing how these alterations will translate into impacts on C cycling and water
quality in lakes and reservoirs.
Several projections of climate change impacts have identified several major hydrological
alterations in a 2oC warmer world. However, we still miss a comprehensive, standardized
exercise showing how these alterations will translate into impacts on C cycling and water
quality in lakes and reservoirs.
C-HydroChange will address these challenges using a cross-disciplinary research strategy
using state-of-the-art methodologies. The composition of C-HydroChange is based on the
complementarity of scientific expertise, methodological approaches, research infrastructures,
and formative capacity of the different subprojects, and on a remarkable shared research
experience between consortium members. Overall, the three coordinated subprojects bring
together the necessary expertise to ensure that the project will be streamlined and focused to
high-quality outputs.
using state-of-the-art methodologies. The composition of C-HydroChange is based on the
complementarity of scientific expertise, methodological approaches, research infrastructures,
and formative capacity of the different subprojects, and on a remarkable shared research
experience between consortium members. Overall, the three coordinated subprojects bring
together the necessary expertise to ensure that the project will be streamlined and focused to
high-quality outputs.